WATERLOO - Activity continues in downtown Waterloo with the opening of another club.

Monica's, a cigar bar at 324 E. Fourth St., will open to the public today. The bar held VIP parties Friday and Saturday.

Buck Clark and his wife, Elaine Eggers, own the bar through their company, B&E Ventures. Clark also owns the first floor of the building, where Monica's is located. Jim Walsh, Waterloo's city attorney, owns the remainder of the building.

Clark said he specifically targeted Waterloo's downtown area as a place he wanted to be.

"I believe downtown Waterloo is poised to become a destination spot and I'd like to be on the front end of that," Clark said.

Terry Poe Buschkamp, director of Main Street Waterloo, said the addition of Monica's helps improve the look of the downtown.

"We see a ratcheting up of the store fronts in the downtown area," Buschkamp said.

Donald Faris, director of operations for B&E Ventures, said the bar will offer high-end scotches, brandies, cognacs and martinis, as well as beer and wine. Monica's will also offer about 20 varieties of cigars. It will not serve food.

One of the bar's features will be a baby grand piano for the customers enjoyment, meaning not only will music be provided on occasion, but customers may also play a tune themselves if they feel inclined.

"We want the people with the ability to play to sit down and play," Faris said. "But please, no karaoke."

Monica's will open at 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday. Faris said they have not decided on closing hours and will see how the bar is received before deciding when it closes.

Down the street, Clark has another project brewing. He plans to open an Irish pub on the first floor of 308 E. Fourth St.

This building is also owned by Walsh, but Clark will be leasing the space for this project. Plans are for the bar to be open early next year.

"It will certainly be open before St. Patrick's Day," Faris said.

Contact RC Balaban at (319) 291-1418 or rc.balaban@wcfcourier.com.